Can body making machine



y 9 19490 J. F. PETERS 2,468,777

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1943 N I N Y I ll} I l/liggoze. L31 3 May 3, 1949. J. F. PETERS 2,468,777

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 as H H\ Lu 1 RE I Q I Lkl I 7 *1 I INVENTOR. q I lax m y 9 19490 .1. F. PETERS 2,468,777

I CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1943 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 3, 1949. J. F. PETERS 2,468,777

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 3, 1949. J. F. PETERS 2,468,777

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE INVENTOR.

BY y

,4 7' TO ENEYS May3, 1949. 1 J. F. PETERS 2,468,777

CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1.943 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 F INVENTOR.

// TTOPNEKS Patented May 3, 1949 CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE John F. Peters, Leonia, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 8, 1943, Serial No. 513,428

7 Claims.

This invention relates to tubular fibre container body making machines and has particular reference to devices for preheating portions of partially formed container bodies and for applying adhesive thereto as an incident to completing the bodies.

In the manufacture of fibre containers, thermoplastic adhesive frequently is used in the joints or seams to hold portions of the containers together. For best results, the adhesive is applied while in a hot liquid state. In some instances, the adhesive becomes chilled by contact with the relatively cold container body and this chilling action prematurely hardens the adhesive so that it will not bend the body parts together.

The present invention contemplates overcoming chilling effect by preheating the portions of the body to be joined and this maintains the subsequently applied adhesive in a tacky condi tion until the portions are brought together preparatory to bonding them into a body joint.

An object of the invention is the provision of a machine for making fibre container bodies wherein edge portions of partially formed 00ntainer bodies are preheated prior to these areas bein coated with a film of thermoplastic adhesive preparatory to joining the edge portions in a side seam so that the adhesive will be maintained in a tacky condition until the edge portions are brought together for joining.

Another object is the provision of such a machine wherein the preheating of edge portions of the partially formed container bodies and the application of the thermoplastic adhesive to the preheated areas are effected while the container bodies are moving along a supporting horn or the like so that manufacture of the bodiesmay be accomplished on a high speed production basis.

lluinercus other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, tak en in connection with the accompanying drawings. discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of preheating and reheating devices and adhesive applyin means in the machine as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal section of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged side elevation of a portion of the machine and forming in part a continuation of the View shown in Fig. 3 at the right of that figure, with parts broken away;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views taken substantially along the lines 5-5, 6-5, l--'! and 8-43 in Fig. 3, with Figs. 6, '7 and 8 drawn on an enlarged scale, with parts broken away;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along the broken lines 9-9 in Fig. 4 with parts broken away;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a fibre container body blank from which container bodies are produced; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are end views of a container body in its different stages of formation as produced from a blank shown in Fig. 10.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention the drawings illustrate a can body making machine for producing tubular fibre container bodies. The major portion of one surface of a body blank A (Fig. 10), used in making the body, is coated with varnish and is glazed or otherwise treated, the coatin being identified by the letter B. At the terminal ends of the blank, a marginal edge portion C on each surface is left uncoated and it is these portions that are treated in the instant machine prior to joining them together in an overlapped longitudinal glued or adhesively secured side seam D (Fig. 12).

In the machine, the flat body blanks A (Fig. 10) first are formed into cylindrical shape as indicated at E in Fig. 11, with the varnish coated surface on the outside. After thus being formed, the side seam edge portions of the blank are heated prior to any further operations. This constitutes a preheating step. A film of thermoplastic or other suitable adhesive F is next applied to one of the preheated side seam edge portions. During movement of the partially formed container body into position for its next operation, the side seam edge portions, both the adhesive coated and the uncoated parts are further heat treated to retain the temperature of these edge portions and to keep the adhesive in a tacky condition. This heat treatment is followed by bringing the edge portions of the body together in overlapped relation with the adhesive'F between said edge portions to bond them into the tight, glued side seam D (Fig. 12) this action producing the finally sealed container body.

The drawings illustrate a machine for these operations on the flat body blank to provide the completely formed and sealed body. For obtaining many of the forming steps the same apparatus may be used as that fully disclosed in my United 3 States Patent 1,770,041, issued July 8, 1930, and reference should be had to this patent for a better interpretation of the drawings.

Briefly this apparatus includes a conveyor 2i (Fig. 5) which operates along a transverse feed table 22 carried on a main frame 24 mounted on legs 25 (Fig. 1). The conveyor in turn includes a reciprocating. slide 26= (Fig. 5)? which carries: a feed dog 21. The slide 26 is reciprocated by means of rack teeth 28 formed on the slide and meshing with a gear segment 32 of a lever 33' carried on a stud 34. The feeding; rollers for. imparting proper movement of the blanks into a forming mechanism G are ar lower drive roller 36 and an upper pressure roller 37.

A stationary forming horn 45 extends longitudinally of the machine (Figs. 1-, 3 and. 5.) and it is along this horn that the various operations are performed incident to producing the finally closed can body. The forward edge of a blank A (Fig. 5) passing through the feeding rollerstB, 31 engage against an adjustable forming block 53 which deflects or bends the blank upwardly around the horn 45 in the usual manner. Segmental wings 5t are carried on a stationary rod 5.1 and these provideguides for thewcan: body'E as it advances over the horn.

The stationary rod 51 also provides support for segmental arms 58' (Figs; 1 and 6) which carry guide bars 59. Thesebars extend longitudinaily ofthe horn and insure the: retention of the body E on the horn asit is advanced-from station to station. This isdescribed in greater detail in my patent mentioned-above;

The advancement of the formed body E'- along the horn is providedzby anintermittent or stepby-s-tep reciprocating feed bar. 62 (see also Fig. 3) having depressiblefeed dogs 63.- These feed bars are mounted on a slide tirwhich is pivotally connected through. a link 61 in the upper end of an actuating-lever 6.8. This. lever. is pivotally mounted on a stud l3 securediin the'frameiof the machine. A. crankarm M connects the lever with a. crank shaft 11.

As a container body E moves. along. the born from the forming station G it next passes through a plurality of preheating stations I-L.(Figs;.1, 3 and 6) at which the marginal. edge. portions C. are preheated. This preheating operation is-brought about by a preheatingdevi'ce 83 and an auxiliary preheating device 84loc'ated beneaththehorn in parallel spaced relation. These devices are carried on longitudinal brackets 85v secured to the main frame. 24-. The' preheating device 83 extends substantially the full. length of the horn 45 and thus continuously heats the one edge portion C (viewed on. the' leftv of Fig. 6). The auxiliary preheating device- 84 (shownon the right of Fig. 6) heats the opposite edge of the body and extends up to an. adhesive applying station J (see Fig.

Each of. the: preheating devices. 83 84: include aheater. track 81,,88. Which isxheated-. by* Calrod electric. heating elements 92: secured tdthebot" tom. of the track. These heating; elements. are.

secured. to lead wires. 93,. 9.4 which. in. turn are connected witha suitable source. of. electric en;- ergy for heating the? tracks. The heater track 81 carries an angularly disposed: heater rail. 95 and an adjacent and angularly disposed guide rail 96 which together define a path of travel for. the edge portion of. the partially formedbody. The heater rail 95: is heated byconduction. of heat from the heater. track. 8.1. The lower. edge portion of the. guide. rail; 96 engages against the Ill terminal edge only of the varnished or otherwise coated face of the marginal edge portion of the container body, and holds the uncoated face of the marginal edge portion of the moving body against the heater rail 95. The opposite varnished face is kept free of the guide rail so that varnish which may be softened by heating is kept. away from the rail. This prevents sticking of the body to the rail. In this manner the marginal edge portion C (as viewed on the left in Fig. 6) is guided and preheated as the body moves along the horn.

The other uncoated or outer marginal edge portion C of the body is preheated by direct engagement with the inner edge of the track 83.

The inner edge ofthe track is beveled to facilitate proper engagement with the body edge portion. The varnish on the outside of the body edge is not in contact with this shorter track long enough to soften the Varnish and accordingly it does not build up on the track.

Following'the preheating treatment of its edge portions, the'container body advances into the adhesive applying station J (Fig. 7). It is desirable that a coating of heated thermoplastic adhesive be applied to at least one of the body edge portions. In the present embodiment the adhesive is applied to only one marginal edge portion. The film of adhesive is applied by an adhesive applying device 97. (Fig. 7) preferably located beneath the horn 4'55 and carried on the main frame 24.

The adhesive applying device 97 includes an open top adhesive reservoir 98 which is adapted to contain a quantity of hot liquefied thermoplastic adhesive 99. This reservoir is surrounded by a heating jacket HJZinto and through which a heating medium lilS-is circulated. This heating medium may be hot oil. Forthis purpose pipes Ill-i are threaded into the jacket N32 to supply the heating medium to the jacket from any suitable source of supply and to discharge it from the jacket. The reservoir is or may be provided with a loose removable cover I05.

Application of the heated thermoplastic adhesive. 99 to the preheated outer edge portion C of the-bodyis effected by a roller Hi5. The roller is mounted for rotation in the reservoir with a shaft it! journaled inzbearings [03. This roller extends up'through an opening H2 in the cover m5.- and projects into the path of travel of the preheated outer edge portion C of the container body moving along the horn.

As the container body advances adjacent the adhesive applying device, its outer marginal edge portion C frictionally engages and rotates the adhesive applying roller I06. The roller carries up a quantity of the thermoplastic adhesive 99 from the reservoir and applies it onto the outer edge. portion of the container body in the form of a band or strip F (see. Fig. 11). The face of sucha roller: preferably is beveled for better engagement Withthe; edge. portion of the body and for even distribution of the adhesive; With the: band. F of. adhesive thus applied, the container body E. now is in. condition for sealing.

Following the application of thermoplastic ad hesive onto the; outer edge portion of the container body, sometimes it is desirable to keep the adhesive in a semi-molten or tacky condition until the separated edgeportions may be brought together. This isv shown herein byadvancing the container body through a reheating station K (Fig. 8). At this'station, the outer marginal edgev portion. with. its thermoplastic adhesive band F is subjected to a stream of heated air which is directed into the path of travel of this edge portion and it is this heated air that keeps the coating in a uniform tacky condition.

The stream of heated air is directed or discharged against the outer marginal edge portion of the advancing body by a heating manifold I I3 which is located beneath the horn 45 (Fig. 8). The manifold H3 is carried on a bracket H4 secured to the main frame 24. This manifold is connected by means of a pipe H5 to a suitable source of heated air.

The partially formed container body E with its marginal edge portions prepared for joining or bonding together into a glued side seam D now is advanced along the horn to a wing forming and bumping station L (Figs. 4 and 9) to complete its formation into a tubular container body. When the body E reaches this station it comes to rest on an expansible section IIE of the body forming horn 45. The expansible section of the horn is of the conventional form and includes movable segments II'I carried on opposite sides of a substantially rectangular section of the horn.

With a container body E in position on the expansible section Ilfi of the horn, as best illustrated in Fig. 9, a hold-down bar I 63, carried on a slide I22 moves down against the body and clamps it against an insert I23 which is secured in the horn. This keeps the body in place on this section of the horn. The slide I22 operates in the main frame 54 in any convenient manner in time with other moving parts.

For the purpose of forming the body, there is provided a pair of wing forming elements I24 disposed one on each side of the horn, in the usual manner, and these constitute instrumentalities for bringing the edge portions of the body together. These wing forming elements are carried on levers I25 which are operated in any suitable manner, to bring the Wings inwardly against the body and to press it against the expanded segments II'I. These forming wing elements substantially surround the body and during their movement carry or shift the prepared marginal edge portions C around the horn, one at a time, in timed relation. This arranges the edge portions in overlapping relation with the band of adhesive F disposed between them.

The joining of the edge portions is effected by a bumping hammer or element I26 which is moved up at the proper time by a bumping slide I21 operating in a slideway I28 and held by gibs I29 secured to the main frame 24 (Fig. 9). The bumping element I26 engages against the overlapped edge portions C at the bottom of the horn and presses the same together and against the horn. This bonds these portions into the longitudinal glued side seam D and completes the tubular container body.

The container body after being completed at the station just described then may be advanced along an extension I32 (Fig. 4) of the horn for subsequent operations. This movement is efiected after the movable segments II! at the expansible section (Fig. 9) are collapsed from their expanded position. These segments start moving inwardly at the time the hold-down bar I I8 moves up, releasing its hold on the container body. At the same time the bumping element I26 moves down away from the body side seams.

Simultaneously with the action just described the wing forming elements I24 move or are retracted outwardly, releasing their hold on the body which then is free to be shifted endwise along the horn extension I32. This further shifting of the body may be performed in any suitable manner, such as for example, by an extension of the top feed bar 62.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for making tubular fibre container bodies having marginal edge portions embodied in an adhesively secured side seam, the combination of means for preheating a marginal edge portion of a partially formed tubular container body, means for preheating the opposite marginal edge portions of said tubular body, means for applying a film of liquid thermoplastic adhesive onto one of said preheated edge portions of the body, means for bringing the adjacent marginal edge portions of said body together in overlapping relation with the adhesive interposed therebetween for bonding said edge portions into a side seam to produce a completed tubular container body, means for longitudinally advancing said body during and between all of the described operations, and means for holding one of said container marginal edge portions against transverse movement during said 1ongitudinal advancement of the container body for the described operations thereon.

2. In machine for making tubular fibre container bodies having marginal edge portions embodied in an adhesively secured side scam, the combination of a heating rail for preheating a marginal edge portion of a partially formed container body, electric heatin elements disposed adjacent said rail for heating the same, means for applying a film of liquid thermoplastic adhesive onto said preheated edge portion of the body, means for bringing the adjacent marginal v edge portions of said body together in overlapping relation with the adhesive interposed therebetween for bonding them into a side seam to produce a tubular container body, means for longitudinally advancing said body during and between all of the described operations, and means for holding one of said. container marginal edge portions against transverse movement during said longitudinal advancement of the container body for the described operations thereon.

3. In a machine for making fibre container bodies having marginal edge portions embodied in an adhesively secured side scam, the combination of a horn along which. partially formed container bodies ar advanced in longitudinal alignment, means located adjacent said horn for preheating the marginal edge portions of said bodies while they travel along said horn, means thereafter disposed adjacent said horn for applying liquid thermoplastic adhesive to one of said edge portions as the partially formed bodies advance along the horn, reheating means for maintaining the applied adhesive in a tackycondition while the bodies advance further along the horn, means still further disposed adjacent said horn for bringing the heated and coated reheated edge portions of the bodies together in overlapping relation with the adhesive interposed therebetween, means for pressing the thus treated edge portions together to bond them in a side assume seam to produce a completed tubular container body; and guide means for holding one of said container marginal edge portions against transverse movement during said longitudinal advancement of the container bodies for the described operations.

4. In a machine for making fibre container bodies having marginal edge portions embodied in an adhesively secured side seam, the. combination of a horn along which partially formed container bodies are advanced in longitudinal alignment, means adjacent said horn for preheating the marginal edge portions of said'bodies while they travel along said horn, means disposed adjacent and further along said horn for applying liquid thermoplastic adhesive to one of said edge portions as the partially formed bodies advance further alongv the horn, a heating manifold disposed adjacent said horn for discharging a stream of heated air into the path of travel of the partially formed container bodies for maintaining the applied adhesive in a tacky condition while thebodies advance further along the horn, means disposed adjacent and still further along said horn for moving the ad jacent edge portions of. the bodies together in overlapping relation with the adhesive interposed therebetween, and means for pressing the thus treated edge portions. together to bond them. in a side seam to produce a finally completed tubular container body.

5. In a machine for making fibre container bodies having marginal edge portions embodied in an adhesively secured side seam, the combination of a horn along which partially formed tubular container bodies are advanced on their sides in longitudinal alignment, preheating devices extending along one side of said horn for continuously heating one marginal edge portion on each of said bodies while they travel along said horn, means disposed along the opposite side of the horn for preheating. the other marginal edge portion, means located on the same side of the horn with the latter preheating. means for applying liquid thermoplastic adhesive to one of the said preheated edge portions as the partially formed tubular bodies are advanced along the horn, aheating manifold disposed adjacent said adhesive applying means for discharging a stream of heated air into the path of travel of the partially formed container bodies for maintaining the applied adhesive in a tacky condition while the bodies advance further along the horn, means disposed adjacent saidhorn for moving the adjacent edge portions of the bodies together in overlapping relation with the adhesive interposed therebetween, andmeans for pressing the thus treated edge portions together to bond them in a side seam to produce finally completed tubular container bodies.

6. In a machine for making tubular fibre contamer bodies having marginal edge por'tionswembodied in an adhesively secured side scam, the combination of container preheating tracks along which opposed spaced. marginal edge. portions of partially formed container bodies are longitudinally advanced and. preheated, means disposed adjacent said' preheating tracks: for heating the latter, means disposed adjacent. said preheating tracks forapplying afilmxof'liquid thermoplastic adhesive to one of said preheated edge portionsof the said bodies, means for moving the adjacent preheated and adhesive coated edge portions together in overlapping relation" with. the adhesive interposed therebetween, andv means for pressing the: thus treated edge: portions together to: bond them. into a side seam to produce a completely formed tubular container body.

'7. In a machine for makingxcoated tubular fibre container bodies having marginal edge portions with one face coatedand the opposite face un coated and embodied in ana'dhesively securedzside seam, the combination of container preheating tracks along whichthe marginal edge portions of partially formedv container bodies travel; a heater rail; forming apartof a said] track and. engagingthe uncoated faceofi'an adjacent edge portion of the bodies for preheatingsaidedge-portion; electric heating elements disposed.- adjacent said preheating tracksfor heating said heater rail, a guide rail disposed adjacent said heater rail and engaging, against the terminal edge. only of the coatedface of the-edge portion: ofsaid bodies respectively for holding; the uncoated face of the edgeportion against theheater railwhile holding the oppositecoatedlfacefreeof the guide'rail, adhesive applyingmeansdisposedadjacent said preheating tracks; for applying a film of liquid thermoplastic adhesive onto. one of said preheated edge portionsonly of thesaid bodies, means for movingthe preheated and adhesive covered edge portions together in overlapping. relation with the adhesive interposed therebetween,.and means for pressing thethustreated edge portions together to bond them into aside seam-t0 produce a finally completed tubular container body.

JOHN F. PETERS.

REFERENCES" CITED The following: references are of record inthe file: ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,752,139- Anderson Mar. 25, 1930 1,846,244 Barbieri: Feb; 23, 1932 2,049,418 Barbier i Aug. 4, 1936 2,100,522 Russell etal Nov. 30, 1937 2,160,008 Van Bur-en- May 30, 1939 2,169,311 Widell he Aug. 15,1939 2,192,950 Widell o Marv 1940 

